TRAPS: This "innocent" question could be a trap door, which sends you down a chute, and lands you in a heap of dust outside the front door. Why? Because, its real intent is not just to see if you've got the stomach to fire, but also to uncover poor judgment in hiring which has caused you to fire so many. Also, if you fire so often, you could be a tyrant.
So don't rise to the bait by boasting how many you've fired,
unless you're prepared to explain why it was beyond your control, and not the
result of your poor hiring procedures or foul temperament.
BEST ANSWER: Describe the rational and sensible management
process you follow in both hiring and firing.
Example: "My whole management approach is to hire the
best people I can find, train them thoroughly and well, get them excited and
proud to be part of our team, and then work with them to achieve our goals
together. If you do all of that right,
especially hiring the right people, I've found you don't have to fire very
often. "So with me, firing is a last resort. But when it's got to be done, it's got to be
done, and the faster and cleaner the better.
A poor employee can wreak terrible damage in undermining the morale of
an entire team of good people. When
there's no other way, I've found it's better for all concerned to act decisively
in getting rid of offenders who won't change their ways."
